Ever since Anderson Silva called him "pretentious" for wanting to move to middleweight, the relationship between these two former friends and training partners had soured. Wanderlei Silva spoke to mmaweekly about it:
I don’t know why he started talking (expletive) about me. Before he start, I don’t like to fight (at middleweight), but after he start you couldn’t pay me to stop. I love the challenge. I love the guys talking about me, because it gives me more motivation to train. Now, I want to fight with him.
On Anderson's tentativeness against Leites steming back years ago, on their days at Chute Boxe:
For a long time, I was bored. Anderson is a champion, and the other guy needs to give the best. But Anderson would put Thales in the corner, and he would not attack.
Many times he have this in Chute Boxe, and the fights, too, and I’m staying in his corner, going ‘go, go go!’ The guy would stay in the corner, and he would not go. This is his fault. He put the guys in the corner, and I don’t know why he doesn’t go.
This is no respect for the boss, no respect for the fans. Every fighter needs to know about their responsibility in the ring, not just to win or lose.
On a boring fight being an even bigger sin than losing:
I prefer to lose in an emotional fight than I win a boring fight. I’m not fighting for money. I’m fighting for emotion. I know the guys are paying $49 to watch a main event like this. I prefer to lose an exciting fight, because I know I give my best, and my opponent won because he had the best day. You win a boring fight, what is better, win or lose? This is the question. You should put your life more at risk.
I don’t fight just with my technique, I fight with my heart. I respect my fans, and for this, my fans respect this. My fans know that every time I stay in the best condition and put my life on the line. For me, no problem.
Wanderlei Silva clearly has his sights set on Anderson, but for that to happen, he has to win in Germany. He should stop thinking about the fans, and focus on beating Rich Franklin first..
